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Old wounds fuel Japan protests
Source: Agencies |
September 19, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
OLD wounds amplified outrage over a burning territorial dispute yesterday as thousands of Chinese protested Japan's "purchase" of China's Diaoyu Islands and marked the 81st anniversary of a Japanese invasion that China has never forgotten.
China marks every September 18 by sounding sirens to remember the 1931 incident when Japan invaded the northeastern part of China, setting off a brutal occupation that ended only at the close of World War II.
The date has been marked as the "day of national humiliation."
This year, as Chinese fume over last week's Japanese "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, protests spread across the country.
Outside the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, thousands of protesters shouted patriotic slogans and demanded a boycott of Japanese goods. Some burned Japanese flags and threw apples, water bottles and eggs at the embassy, which was heavily guarded by three layers of paramilitary police and metal barricades.
Streams of people marched past the embassy in orderly groups of about 150 people, herded by police who urged them to remain calm and peaceful. Some carried posters of Chairman Mao Zedong, and many shouted slogans such as: "United, love China, never forget our national shame."
"We believe we need to declare war on them because the Japanese devils are too evil. Down with little Japan," said Wang Guoming, a retired soldier who said he came from Linfen in Shanxi Province, 600 kilometers away, to vent his frustration.
In Shanghai, many Japanese-owned or oriented shops and restaurants in the western part of the city, where the Japanese consulate is, either closed or covered any Japan-brand signs.
Uniqlo, Asia's biggest clothing retailer, closed some of its outlets but opened its flagship store on Shanghai's Nanjing Road W. in the afternoon.
Protests also took place in Guangzhou, Wenzhou and other Chinese cities. Japan's Kyodo News agency reported protests in at least 100 cities.
Scores of Japanese-owned factories and stores in China were closed yesterday.
Big name brands and retailers appeared to be suffering the brunt of the latest mass outburst of anti-Japan sentiment.
Many companies said they closed fearing the 81st anniversary of the Japanese invasion would bring a fresh wave of protests.
Pain from the protests was being felt in Tokyo, too, where business has slowed for the many shopkeepers catering to Chinese tourists.
Many employees of Japanese retailers, automakers and other companies in China stayed home yesterday. The Japanese school in Beijing was closed on Monday, a Japanese public holiday, and yesterday. Staff were uncertain about what would happen today.
Toyota Motor Corp would not reveal which or how many of its factories were closed, saying it was up to each affiliate or subsidiary to decide. Employee safety was the priority, it said in a company statement.
Honda Motor Corp said its five assembly plants in China were closed yesterday and would be today, mainly to adjust production due to the anti-Japanese backlash on sales. Honda dealerships have also been damaged in recent protests, the company said.
Honda's China sales account for about a fifth of its global total, with Toyota's accounting for about 10 percent and Nissan Motor Co's for over a quarter.
Kobe Steel shut four of its various steel, aluminum and construction machinery plants in China, said spokesman Gary Tsuchida.
Sharp Corp, which gets about a fifth of its sales from China, said its various factories were operating as usual but employees were being told to avoid unnecessary travel.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which has a big shipbuilding joint venture in Nantong, near Shanghai, also continued business as usual.
Sony Corp suspended production at two factories out of the seven it operates in China yesterday.
China marks every September 18 by sounding sirens to remember the 1931 incident when Japan invaded the northeastern part of China, setting off a brutal occupation that ended only at the close of World War II.
The date has been marked as the "day of national humiliation."
This year, as Chinese fume over last week's Japanese "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, protests spread across the country.
Outside the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, thousands of protesters shouted patriotic slogans and demanded a boycott of Japanese goods. Some burned Japanese flags and threw apples, water bottles and eggs at the embassy, which was heavily guarded by three layers of paramilitary police and metal barricades.
Streams of people marched past the embassy in orderly groups of about 150 people, herded by police who urged them to remain calm and peaceful. Some carried posters of Chairman Mao Zedong, and many shouted slogans such as: "United, love China, never forget our national shame."
"We believe we need to declare war on them because the Japanese devils are too evil. Down with little Japan," said Wang Guoming, a retired soldier who said he came from Linfen in Shanxi Province, 600 kilometers away, to vent his frustration.
In Shanghai, many Japanese-owned or oriented shops and restaurants in the western part of the city, where the Japanese consulate is, either closed or covered any Japan-brand signs.
Uniqlo, Asia's biggest clothing retailer, closed some of its outlets but opened its flagship store on Shanghai's Nanjing Road W. in the afternoon.
Protests also took place in Guangzhou, Wenzhou and other Chinese cities. Japan's Kyodo News agency reported protests in at least 100 cities.
Scores of Japanese-owned factories and stores in China were closed yesterday.
Big name brands and retailers appeared to be suffering the brunt of the latest mass outburst of anti-Japan sentiment.
Many companies said they closed fearing the 81st anniversary of the Japanese invasion would bring a fresh wave of protests.
Pain from the protests was being felt in Tokyo, too, where business has slowed for the many shopkeepers catering to Chinese tourists.
Many employees of Japanese retailers, automakers and other companies in China stayed home yesterday. The Japanese school in Beijing was closed on Monday, a Japanese public holiday, and yesterday. Staff were uncertain about what would happen today.
Toyota Motor Corp would not reveal which or how many of its factories were closed, saying it was up to each affiliate or subsidiary to decide. Employee safety was the priority, it said in a company statement.
Honda Motor Corp said its five assembly plants in China were closed yesterday and would be today, mainly to adjust production due to the anti-Japanese backlash on sales. Honda dealerships have also been damaged in recent protests, the company said.
Honda's China sales account for about a fifth of its global total, with Toyota's accounting for about 10 percent and Nissan Motor Co's for over a quarter.
Kobe Steel shut four of its various steel, aluminum and construction machinery plants in China, said spokesman Gary Tsuchida.
Sharp Corp, which gets about a fifth of its sales from China, said its various factories were operating as usual but employees were being told to avoid unnecessary travel.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which has a big shipbuilding joint venture in Nantong, near Shanghai, also continued business as usual.
Sony Corp suspended production at two factories out of the seven it operates in China yesterday.
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